Port of Moses Lake authorizes aircraft rescue agreement

Rural Metro takes over Aug. 1

MOSES LAKE — Port of Moses Lake commissioners authorized their executive manager to execute an agreement to begin contracting for aircraft rescue fire fighting services in August.

The port district's agreement, made at their meeting Monday afternoon, with Arizona-based Rural Metro Fire Department, Inc., is subject to review and approval by legal counsel.

Port attorney Harold Moberg first asked commissioners for permission to begin speaking with local unions and contract providers in March, citing the loss of federal funding due to the termination of a federal subsidy providing commercial air service into Grant County International Airport. He later announced contracting with Rural Metro would save the district $238,000, compared to continuing as is with the port's eight-employee public safety department providing the services.

The port decided to approve a letter of understanding with Arizona-based contracting company Rural Metro at a meeting in May.

At Monday's meeting, Moberg said Rural Metro would take over for the public safety department effective Aug. 1.

"We've spent a considerable amount of time putting together an operations manual," Moberg said. "I think the transition should go smoothly, and it has gone smoothly. I think that's a tribute to the employees we have in public safety."

Moberg said the port has contracted with Rural Metro for the services. The fire department takes care of hiring its employees, he said.

The port encouraged Rural Metro to consider offering employment to the public safety department members, Moberg said, and several offers were made, but those employees had other employment lined up.

"We're not involved in that part," he said.

Commissioners Kent Jones, Larry Peterson and Delone Kruger heard from the port district's Executive Manager Craig Baldwin and Industrial Development Manager Albert Anderson about possibly housing an annual Mothers of Military Support annual warbird fly-in.

Currently located in Kelso, the fly-in would be held at the airport during a patriotic holiday, Anderson said, listing Flag Day, Labor Day or Independence Day as possibilities. Memorial Day presents a scheduling conflict with other events, he noted.

Commissioners allowed Anderson and Baldwin to pursue further information.

Jones said the commissioners and Baldwin were in attendance for Boeing's unveiling of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft in Everett Sunday.

Jones said he would have liked to have spoken with more people about getting better use out of Grant County International Airport's facilities, but he said anything to spread awareness about the airport can be helpful.

The port district holds its quarterly meeting with the Aero-Space Port International Group, or ASPI, July 23 at 11 a.m. The U.S. Military Rodeo takes place the same week.